Windows update can't connect and other issues
November 11, 2019 9:05 AM Subscribe
I'm having a host of Windows 10 issues that I think are generally related to a corruption of user account control, and I can't figure it out. I first discovered this when trying to run Windows Update and it cannot connect, having last successfully updated in March 2019. Details inside.
TLDR - my issues are most like what is described here by BillM19 on March 24, 2017 in the microsoft support forum. Windows Update can't connect and various other services are blocked by mmc.exe even though I am in an administrator account.
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I have been trying to play a new video game, and when trying to run it, an error says the OS is out of date and does not meet the minimum requirements. The minimum requirements are Windows 7, but I have Windows 10, version 1709. Nonetheless, I tried to run Windows Update. When doing so, it says I am up to date with the latest version installed on March 20, 2019. I know this is not the most up to date version, so I click to check for updates. This is where my problem began. I get an error in Windows Update reading: "We couldn't connect to the update service...make sure you are connected to the internet." I am connected to the internet and everything else works as it should. I use the someonewhocares hosts file, so I deleted everything in my hosts file, thinking that was an issue. Still the same problem.
When I run the windows update troubleshooter, I get this with an error
0x80070005, which seems to be an "access denied" error.
I've also been trying to update my graphics card driver (GeForce GTX 1060) and it always fails, even when I try older versions. I have tried using DDU to remove old drivers, but that doesn't help. While doing all of this, I have tried to access the Device Manager and I get a red error box (screenshot) that says it's blocked by mmc.exe. Other services, but not all (no problem getting into regedit; cannot open Services) also run into this issue. This happens even though I am in an administrator user account and even when I right click and use "run as administrator."
When searching for issues running Device Manager, I found this thread and the various users expressing issues, especially gerrydog65 and BillM19, seem to be having the same issues that I'm having.
In the end, I can't run windows update, I can't update my graphics card driver, and I can't access some basic parts of the operating system. User Account Control seems to be the main underlying issue, but it's locked down more than I've ever experienced before.
What's going on and how can I fix it?
TLDR - my issues are most like what is described here by BillM19 on March 24, 2017 in the microsoft support forum. Windows Update can't connect and various other services are blocked by mmc.exe even though I am in an administrator account.
--
I have been trying to play a new video game, and when trying to run it, an error says the OS is out of date and does not meet the minimum requirements. The minimum requirements are Windows 7, but I have Windows 10, version 1709. Nonetheless, I tried to run Windows Update. When doing so, it says I am up to date with the latest version installed on March 20, 2019. I know this is not the most up to date version, so I click to check for updates. This is where my problem began. I get an error in Windows Update reading: "We couldn't connect to the update service...make sure you are connected to the internet." I am connected to the internet and everything else works as it should. I use the someonewhocares hosts file, so I deleted everything in my hosts file, thinking that was an issue. Still the same problem.
When I run the windows update troubleshooter, I get this with an error
0x80070005, which seems to be an "access denied" error.
I've also been trying to update my graphics card driver (GeForce GTX 1060) and it always fails, even when I try older versions. I have tried using DDU to remove old drivers, but that doesn't help. While doing all of this, I have tried to access the Device Manager and I get a red error box (screenshot) that says it's blocked by mmc.exe. Other services, but not all (no problem getting into regedit; cannot open Services) also run into this issue. This happens even though I am in an administrator user account and even when I right click and use "run as administrator."
When searching for issues running Device Manager, I found this thread and the various users expressing issues, especially gerrydog65 and BillM19, seem to be having the same issues that I'm having.
In the end, I can't run windows update, I can't update my graphics card driver, and I can't access some basic parts of the operating system. User Account Control seems to be the main underlying issue, but it's locked down more than I've ever experienced before.
What's going on and how can I fix it?
If you really do need to start over from scratch, Windows 10 has a feature to reinstall itself if you don't have an installation disk handy. Just press the windows key and type "Reset this PC".
posted by Eleven at 10:36 AM on November 11, 2019
posted by Eleven at 10:36 AM on November 11, 2019
Response by poster: Thanks. Couldn't even use the "reset this PC" function and I needed to use the computer quickly. I ended up doing a full reinstall by making a startup USB drive for Windows 10 and starting from scratch.
posted by msbrauer at 10:39 AM on November 12, 2019
posted by msbrauer at 10:39 AM on November 12, 2019
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Before that, I might check to make sure I had IPv6 disabled in case Windows Update was trying to use it despite my ISP not being dual stack, but it's been a while since I've seen that particular issue.
posted by wierdo at 9:20 AM on November 11, 2019